How much of this "concern" about the basin being a public waterway is sincere, and how much is to try and keep the kayak rental business there? Doesn't Derek Bell aka "Scooter" work at the kayak rental place, which just so happens to figure prominently in the "alternative" plan? What exactly is Bell's commercial interest in the basin? Would he support an alternative plan that did not have the rental shop based in the basin, but kept that area open as part of the public beach? I doubt it...

How much of this "concern" about the basin being a public waterway is sincere, and how much is to try and keep the kayak rental business there? Doesn't Derek Bell aka "Scooter" work at the kayak rental place, which just so happens to figure prominently in the "alternative" plan? What exactly is Bell's commercial interest in the basin? Would he support an alternative plan that did not have the rental shop based in the basin, but kept that area open as part of the public beach? I doubt it...

Tweeky,

I'm not sure what the point you're trying to make is.

The effort to keep The Basins waters Public is not about any one person.

If, however, anyone has an existing commercial interest in keeping The Basins waters open to The Public I wouldn't be surprised if they joined the effort. I would understand their support to keep The Basins waters public and would welcome their participation.

In fact many, including myself, have a strong belief that keeping The Basin's waters open to The Public has every bit the opportunity to attract commercial tenants and patrons than if a cable-park were constructed - perhaps even more - and certainly in an environmentally lower impact and more sustainable fashion which serves a broader demographic and does not scar our waterfront with steel towers and cables._________________CU Sailin'

I am not necessarilly a huge proponent of this idea but I must point out that I drive by "The Basin" nearly every day. The typical number of people I see using the South half of the area is ZERO. That is fact. So I am another who must say that I feel that oponents of the development are constantly mis-representing the areas use to make their case. Stick to factual evidence against this idea and you will gain my respect

Here is a picture of the ZERO people who were at the south end of the basin last Saturday. I guess I count differently. The parking lot at Slackwater was full from 11-7. There are 12 people in the frame of this picture which only shows the south end of the basin. If you want to get an idea of who is using the basin, there is a photo of the day blog for users of the basin.http://www.publicwaterfront.org/photo-of-the-day/
Better yet, talk to the three concessions who operate out of the basin. Ask them how business is this year. They will all say that the number of users of the basin has exploded in the last two years, especially this summer.

Is it always used intensively? No. Like all water uses, it's very weather dependent. Would use likely skyrocket with improvements to the west side and additional water access? Yep. The Waterfront Park is a good example of how that would work.

How much of this "concern" about the basin being a public waterway is sincere, and how much is to try and keep the kayak rental business there? Doesn't Derek Bell aka "Scooter" work at the kayak rental place, which just so happens to figure prominently in the "alternative" plan? What exactly is Bell's commercial interest in the basin? Would he support an alternative plan that did not have the rental shop based in the basin, but kept that area open as part of the public beach? I doubt it...

That is a legitimate questions.

I am currently a part-time, seasonal employee of the Kayak Shed and not the Columbia Gorge Kayak School who does kayak/SUP rentals in the basin. I do not speak for either of those businesses and have no financial gains or losses due to the cable parks passing or it's denial. Regardless of what happens on the west bank I hope that both SUP and kayak rentals will be available to the public for use of the basin.

I would support a west bank development that gave basin access to the public without kayak/SUP rentals under certain circumstances.

It is my personal belief that the cable park is bad for small local business in Hood River that have worked to eeck out a living by offering SUP, Kayak and windsurf rentals and lesson in the basin.

I don't think the Port or City should be giving special treatment and exclusive use of the basin to an out of town developer at the expense of local small businesses.

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